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History of the Montana License Plate

What would lead to the need for license plates began in 1891 when the Second Legislative Assembly passed an act establishing taxation on all property in the state (with exceptions). In 1913, the Legislature recognized motor vehicles as property and in 1919 provided for the specific classification of automobiles, motor trucks, and other power-driven vehicles.

Taxation on motor vehicles was put into effect in 1913 for the purpose of raising revenue for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of public highways. A license fee of $5 to $20 was charged depending on the horsepower of the vehicle.

Registration of vehicles, including all identifying features of the vehicle and the name and address of the owner, was also put into effect in 1913. A Registrar of Motor Vehicles was designated and it became his responsibility to assign a distinctive number to be displayed on the front and rear of each vehicle. These numbers were issued in numerical sequence as the registrations were received. Since the state was not yet providing a license plate, many vehicle owners would inscribe the registration number on a piece of leather or other article and attach it to their vehicle.

Montana began issuing license plates in 1914. The first plate displayed only the plate number. The 1915-1916 plates displayed “MON,” the year, and the plate number. A prefix number was assigned in 1926, which designated population centers as they existed in 1914. The first prison-made plates were issued in 1928, and “MONTANA” was spelled out; plates prior to 1928 were manufactured out of state. Approximately 127,215 plates were manufactured in 1928. In 1933, the prefix number was revised to designate the county in which that vehicle was registered. The words “PRISON MADE” were stamped into plates during the years 1939-1957.

The state map, which outlines the standard issue license plate of today, was first found on the 1933 orange and maroon plate, and the bison skull was first added for a single year in 1938.

The “Treasure State” slogan was first used in 1950 and changed to the popular “Big Sky Country” slogan in 1967. That would be used until 2010 when “Treasure State” was reintroduced.

During 1944, license plates were manufactured from pressed soybean fiberboard due to a shortage of steel caused by the war. Goats, cows, and mice reportedly enjoyed the taste of these plates, with some vehicle owners losing their plates to a snack for the animals.

Steel was replaced by aluminum in 1960. New resources initiated another change in 1967 when reflectorized materials were introduced. Adhesive registration decals were first used in 1968, replacing the metal insert tags dating to 1954.

Montana offered its first alternate license plate, the Amateur Radio Operator plate, in 1958. Personalized (vanity) license plates were first issued in 1974.

The red, white, and blue bicentennial plates were presented in 1976 for the nation’s 200th birthday, and validation stickers were used until 1991. National Guard and Disabled Veteran plates were introduced with the coming of the bicentennial plates in 1976. Ex-POW and disabled plates were introduced in 1983. Military reserve plates became available in the bicentennial format in 1985. 1987 brought the Montana centennial plate into use in conjunction with the bicentennial plate to celebrate Montana’s 100 years of statehood (1889). These plates were in use through 1996.

In 1991, the colorful “New Issue” plate was introduced and featured a gradient blue background with yellow, orange, and brown striped mountain silhouettes and “Big Sky” emblazoned on the bottom with a bison skull. This design remained in use through the ’90s.

Collegiate plates that included all of Montana’s colleges and universities also became available in 1991, as did the new Purple Heart Recipient plate and the Pearl Harbor Survivor plate, and veteran plates for all divisions of the military.

The 1999 Legislature passed a bill requiring that new license plates be issued every four years, beginning in the year 2000. The standard issue plate design for 2000 contained key characteristics that make Montanans so proud of their state – rugged mountains, vast plains and the rich purple and gold colors associated with both.

In 2001, the 57th Montana Legislature passed the Generic Specialty License Plate Act, allowing the Department of Justice to issue specialty license plates sponsored by qualified organizations or governmental bodies. These plates are specially designed with distinctive backgrounds, colors or phrases that identify the sponsoring organization. The number format differs from the standard issue plate in that it has three letters and three numbers without a county designator. Under the Act, the Motor Vehicle Division determines if an organization or governmental body is qualified as a specialty plate sponsor and sets guidelines that govern the appearance of any specialty plate. Prior to the Act, the approval of license plates was left to the Legislature with the body voting on every group, mainly military groups, that wanted to offer plates. In 2002, the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial and Glacier National Park plates were the first specialty plates offered to the public.

The standard issue 2006 license plate design featured Montana’s sky in a rich blue-green with “Montana” written in gold old-west lettering across the top, with the “Big Sky Country” slogan under it. Along the bottom, mountain ridges and forest transitioned to foothills then prairies in an image that echoed the state’s geography. The “dot” between the county prefix and the plate number brought back the bison skull silhouette for the first time since 1938, and the numbers were black instead of dark blue. Unlike tab placement on standard 2000 plates, tabs for 2006 plates were placed in the upper right hand corner of the rear plate. Also in 2006, new formats were defined for small permanent plates (for motorcycles and trailers), registration tabs, and decals.

The 2006 plate was the first standard issue plate to be printed on, rather than stamped in, metal. The printing process, used to create specialty plates, is faster than stamping. You can see how involved the old embossing process was in these diagrams.

The blue “retro” plate was issued beginning in January 2010. Each design element echoes Montana’s classic license plates. The white Montana outline on a solid blue background harkens back to the plates of the ’70s, and the “Treasure State” slogan along the top was used in the ’50s and ’60s. The clear-cut, white lettering for the state name and plate number is also a classic look, and makes it easier to read the plate from a distance. The “10” after Montana is for the issue year of the design, a feature that was used through the ’80s. The separator between the county prefix and the plate number is the familiar silhouette of a bison skull.

Gold Star Family license plates were also introduced in 2010 for family members of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their lives in combat.

Four retired plate designs became available again in 2012. As an alternative to the 2010 standard-issue blue “retro” plate, vehicle owners could choose the 1989 state centennial design or the standard designs from 1991, 2000, or 2006.

Standard issue plate designs are chosen by a committee of representatives from the Department of Corrections, which manufactures the plates, Travel Montana (Department of Commerce), and the Highway Patrol and the Motor Vehicle Division (Department of Justice). For information about license plate manufacturing, visit the Montana Correctional Enterprises website at www.cor.mt.gov/MCE.

Attorney General's Office & Legal Services Division

The Attorney General’s Office, headed by Attorney General Tim Fox, and the Legal Services Division function as the lawyers for the State of Montana. The attorneys in the Office have expertise in a wide range of legal topics and handle a broad range of legal cases involving the State of Montana and its people.

Children’s Justice Bureau

The Children’s Justice Bureau is an agency-wide initiative at the Montana Department of Justice dedicated to IMPROVING how we respond to child victims, DEVELOPING state-of-the-art approaches by keeping up with the newest research and, most importantly, HELPING child victims recover and move on with their lives.

Forensic Science Division & State Crime Lab

The mission of the Montana Forensic Science Division is to use operationally efficient and financially responsible practices as the laboratory provides accurate, objective, and timely forensic analyses to the criminal justice community in order to maximize value to the citizens of Montana.

Missing Persons Clearinghouse

The Missing Children Act of 1985 established a Montana Missing Persons Clearinghouse within the Department of Justice. In March 2008, the department implemented a searchable online database that, for the first time, is updated in real time and includes any photos provided by law enforcement.

Office of Victim Services

The goal of the Office of Victim Services is to provide tools and information to help crime victims recover from their experience and provide them with a range of services available. The criminal justice system can be confusing and intimidating for victims. To assist them as they go through the justice system, the Office of Victim Service is available to answer any questions they may have.

Central Services Division

The Montana Department of Justice’s Central Services Division provides financial and human resources support for the department. We make sure that everything works for the people Working for Justice. If you’re interested in a rewarding career helping protect the rights and safety of all Montanans, we invite you to join our team of over 800 dedicated employees working across the state.

Division of Criminal Investigation

The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) at the Montana Department of Justice is involved in many aspects of Montana law enforcement and is integral to the Department of Justice’s mission of promoting public safety.

Montana Highway Patrol

Montana is rich in natural beauty and history. From Glacier Park in the west to Makoshika Park in the east, the men and women of the Montana Highway Patrol are working hard to make your travels safe and enjoyable. The Highway Patrol’s core values are “Service, Integrity and Respect.” These values are reflected in our commitment to public safety through diligent and fair enforcement of our traffic codes.

Montana Law Enforcement Academy

The Montana Law Enforcement Academy is the premier law enforcement and public safety educational and training institution for state, county, city and tribal officers throughout the state. The Academy offers entry-level programs referred to as Basic Programs and advanced training through an array of Professional Development Programs.

Public Safety Officer Standards & Training

The Council was formed in 2007 under 2-15-2029, MCA as an independent Quasi-judicial board. And as allowed by statute the Council adopted Administrative Rules in order to implement the provisions of Title 44, chapter 4, part 4, MCA. Per 44-4-403, MCA the Council is required to set employment and training standards for all Public Safety Officers as defined in 44-4-401, MCA and in addition the Council shall provide for the certification or recertification of public safety officers and for the suspension or revocation of certification of public safety officers.

Motor Vehicle Division

The mission of the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is to identify and promote efficient, cost-effective programs that benefit the interests, safety, and well-being of Montana citizens through licensing, registering, and regulating the motoring activities of the public. The MVD continuously strives for excellence in customer service. Streamlining the way we do business has allowed us to improve our efficiency and make our services more convenient for our customers.

Natural Resource Damage Program

The Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) was created in 1990 to prepare the state’s lawsuit against the Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO) for injuries to the natural resources in the Upper Clark Fork River Basin (UCFRB). Decades of mining and mineral processing operations in and around Butte and Anaconda released substantial quantities of hazardous substances into the Upper Clark Fork River Basin between Butte and Milltown. These hazardous substances extensively degraded the area’s natural resources.

Gambling Control Division

Through the Gambling Control Division, the Department of Justice regulates all forms of gambling in Montana, except for the Montana Lottery and horse racing. The legislature has charged the division with maintaining a uniform regulatory climate that is fair and free of corrupt influences. The division is also responsible for collecting gambling revenue for state and local governments.

Human Trafficking

The Montana Department of Justice has a continued commitment to victims of human trafficking. In partnership with federal authorities, our agency plays a key role in the investigation, enforcement, and prosecution of crimes related to human trafficking in Montana. This form of modern day slavery does happen here in Big Sky Country.

Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Program

Montana’s deadliest drugs aren’t made in secret labs and they don’t always come from dealers on the corner. They’re in our own medicine cabinets. Each year, prescription drug abuse contributes to the deaths of more than 300 Montanans — making prescription drug abuse 15 times more deadly than meth, heroin and cocaine combined. Our kids report the third-highest rate of prescription drug abuse in the country and more than half of them say prescription drugs are easier to get than street drugs.

Safe in Your Space

When it comes to embracing new technology, kids have rapidly outpaced their parents and teachers. By their early school years, many children are already more comfortable on the Internet than their parents. But just because children are smart enough to know how to navigate the Internet, doesn’t mean they have the experience to make good decisions about some of the possibilities they may face online.

Montana Sexual or Violent Offender Registry

Montana 24/7 Sobriety Program

Drinking and driving has been a chronic – and deadly — problem on Montana’s roadways for decades. In 2008, Montana was ranked as the deadliest state in the nation when it came to per capita DUI-related traffic fatalities.

Work for Justice

Everyday at The Montana Department of Justice, our employees are dedicated to ensuring the well-being and rights of the people of our great state. We’re passionate about what we do because it’s more than a job or a career. It’s about who we are as people. If this sounds like you, your unique experiences, knowledge, and values may be just what the Montana Department of Justice is looking for and needs. In return we can offer a culture that promotes fairness and growth opportunities.